2025 AFCONQ: Those who invaded Baba Yara pitch are betting addicts – NSA Deputy Director

Majeed Bawa, Deputy Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), has asserted that betting addicts are responsible for the vandalism at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium following the Black Stars’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifying defeat to Angola.

Following Ghana’s 1-0 loss to the Palancas Negras on Thursday in Kumasi, enraged fans stormed the pitch and caused significant damage to the stadium’s pitch panels.

While some attribute the invasion to the disappointing result and the poor condition of the pitch, Bawa offers a different perspective.

“I saw them. In fact, I was standing helplessly because if you try to stop them, they may hurt you. The police were there, but they couldn’t help. They destroyed and threw missiles onto the pitch,” he told Asempa FM as monitored by footballghana.com.

“All manner of objects [were thrown] on the pitch. That damage too was caused by NSA? I believe these incidents are being caused by young people addicted to betting.

“Honestly, that is my feeling. Because if you see those people doing these things, they are young, young guys. They are doing this because we lost. Those who vandalised the stadium are young guys addicted to betting.

“They were saying that they were disappointed. They’ve lost, they’ve lost, and they’ve lost, not Ghana.”

The bad nature of the pitch dominated headlines after the game, with many social media users calling on fans to ban Ghana from playing home games in Ghana until the pitches are fixed.